DY: Other way around. The plain meaning of Chazal is clearly Atlas. The Gemara tells us that you can assume these idols were worshipped (at least once a year) because they were common idols and they were found at the entrance to major cities (in the Greco-Roman empire). So either the Mishnah is referring to something random (some idols we’ve never heard of) or to the idols that we know were worshipped and were found on major highways and at the entrances to cities? I’m much, much more inclined to say that the Pashtus is the latter, even if that’s not how the simple meaning of the words sound. (And the Baraisa that adds several things can all also be attached to major Greek gods.)
(By the way, after our earlier discussion on this, I had an idea. I showed a major Posek a picture of a statue of Zeus (without telling him this was Zeus) and asked if it was Avodah Zarah. He said no, because the bird depicted with him was at his feet, not in his hand. Now, again, I don’t know how comfortable I am saying that when the Mishnah uses the word “BeYado” it’s Lav Davka, becaue Zeus is almost always depicted with a bird, though the bird is rarely actually in his hand. I do know, however, that a statue of Zeus is without question Avodah Zarah and that I have a very hard time believing that a reading of the Gemara that tells you Zeus isn’t Avodah Zarah is correct.)